James Oberstar: “Mr. Chairman, all of the amendments we debated last night and so far today have had important consequences for the…”

“Mr. Chairman, all of the amendments we debated last night and so far today have had important consequences for the future of the country, for the operation of the Department of Homeland Security, for various aspects of our domestic life. The one I propose at this point is quite possibly the only life or death vote we will consider in this legislation. Because whether or not explosive detection systems are installed at airports and whether or not complete screening of checked luggage is accomplished at the Nation's domestic airports will determine whether a terrorist can get a bomb aboard an aircraft and blow it out of the sky, as happened with Pan Am 103 over Lockerbee, Scotland. Make no mistake about it, there are serious consequences, life or death consequences for what we do in this piece of the legislation. Previously, on the en bloc amendment of the majority leader, I said I cannot understand why anyone would want to protect the security company providers from liability. In this amendment, in this the provision of the committee bill, I can understand why Members are confused and why there was an attempt to extend the deadline for compliance with the law that we enacted a year ago, 8 months ago in this body, 410 to 9. I understand that airport authorities have badgered Members of this body. Airlines have lobbied many Members of this body to extend the time for compliance with that law. They are wrong.…”